1. Satire and Irony: Saki was a master of satire, using humor to expose the follies and hypocrisies of society. He employed irony, often dark and unexpected, to subvert expectations and highlight the absurdity of human behavior.
2. Wit and Wordplay: Saki's writing is filled with clever wordplay, puns, and aphorisms. He had a keen eye for the nuances of language and used it to create humorous and memorable effects.
3. Sharp Observation and Social Commentary: He had a sharp wit and a keen eye for the foibles and absurdities of human nature. His stories often satirized social conventions, class distinctions, and the pursuit of power and status.
4. Unexpected Twists and Endings: His stories often feature unexpected twists and endings, leaving readers surprised and sometimes even unsettled. He frequently employed the macabre and the grotesque to highlight the darker aspects of human nature.
5. Concise and Economical Language: Saki was known for his concise and economical use of language. He often wrote in short, crisp sentences, and his stories are typically brief and to the point.
6. Dry Humor and Deadpan Delivery: Saki's humor is often dry and understated, delivered with a deadpan tone. He relied more on the wit of his observations rather than overly exaggerated comedic devices.
7. Unreliable Narrators: Saki often uses unreliable narrators, who are often biased or have a skewed perspective. This adds another layer of irony to his stories and forces readers to question the truth of what they are being told.
8. Dark Humor: While his humor is often lighthearted and witty, Saki also explored darker themes of death, violence, and the fragility of life. His stories often have a chilling undercurrent of irony and bleakness.
Overall, Saki's writing style is a unique blend of satire, wit, and dark humor. He was a master of observation and social commentary, and his stories continue to entertain and provoke readers even today.